Table-desk trunk.



No. 66H94.

Patented mw. 6, |900. A. P. ROTHSCHILD & G. .1. BUB. Y

TABLE DESK TRUNK..

(Application led Apr. 24, 1900.)

(No Model.)

4 Ptented mw.l s, |900; A. P. noTHscmLn a s. J.' sus. f

TABLE DESK TRUNK. (Appnmion mad Anf, 1900.)

v2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

fand f'. Ju

UNITED STATES PATE-NT OFFICE.'

ALFRED P. ROTHSCHILD AND GEORGE J. BUB, OF LEAVENWORTH, KANSAS.

TABLE-DESK TRUNK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Iatent N o. 661,194, datedNovember 6, 1900.

Application led April 24. 1900. Serial No. 14,111. (No model.)

To all whom it mct'yconcewb: Be it known that we, ALFRED P. ROTH- SCHILDand GEORGE J. BUB, citizens of the United States, and residents ofLeavenworth, Leavenworth county, Kansas, haveinvented a new anduseful-Table-Desk Trunk, of which the following is a specification.

.of straps.

Our invention relates to table-desk' trunks, and more particularly to atrunk designed especially for travelers, army and navy officers, dac.,and susceptible of convenient use for various purposes-as a trunk orportable receptacle, a desk, a card-table, or a dresser withilluminating and lavatory attachments. Our Objectis to produce atable-desk trunk of the type above outlined provided with folding legsto economizie space, and which protect the trunk from injury at certainpoints While in shipment, and which combines simplicity, strength,durability, and cheapness of construction.

With this object in view the invention consists in certain novel andpeculiar features of construction and combinations of parts, as will behereinafter described and claimed.

In order that the invention may be fully understood, reference is to behad to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a perspectiveview of the device as arranged for use as a dresser or writing; desk.Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section as arranged for use as a card-table.detail perspective view, en1arged,of one ofthe Fig. 3 isaybumper-brackets and the hinged leg secured thereto and occupying itsfolded position. Fig. 4 is a vertical section showing the standard onwhich the illuminating attachment is swveled. Fig. 5 is a verticalsection showing the ink-Well receptacle. Fig. 6 is a de- 4tail sectionshowing one end of the device -with the lavatory attach ment detached.Fig. .7 is a detail perspective view of a modified formof legconstrue-tion with the leg folded.

In the said drawings, where like referencenumerals referto correspondingparts, l des- -ignates the body of an ordinary shallow trunk -of thetype 'known as v-steamer-trunks, 2 the hinged top, and 3 the lock forsecuring the top'in its closed position. At opposite sides of the lockthe trunk is provided, as usual, with a pair of guide-loops 4 for a pair-(Not shown.)

Connecting the body portion and top of the i trunk are the folding parts5 and 6, pivoted together, as shown at 7, the arrangement be-` ing suchthat ordinarily the top will be prevented froin moving farther back thanas 'shown in Fig. 1. As it is desirable at times to swing the top backto a horizontal position to provide a table for amusement or otherpurposes, the part dis provided with an elongated slot 8 to permit thepivot 7 when loosened to slide to the forward end of the part 6, whereitis again tightened. To assist the parts 5 and 6 in supporting the topinits horizontal opened position, a loop 6a is provided at the center ofits front side, and detachably engaging said loop is the upper end of atemporary leg 6", having a shoulder 6, upon which the loop rests.- Itisdesirable, of

course, in using the device as a table that a table cover or cloth-bespread over it in order to cover up cracks and joints, thus renderingthe surface as smooth as possible. When the device is not in use as atable, said leg 6b is placed in one of the compartments 9 of thetrunk-body.

In the upper rear edge of the trunk is provided a shallow compartment10, at one end partitioned to provide an ink-Well receptacle ll.Oompartments 9 are closed by the hinged lid l2, preferablycloth-covered, to provide a smooth writing-surface when the device is inuse as a desk.

The top of the trunk contains a tray 13, secured in place by the guidesltin the customary manner. At its inner side it is provided withparallel cleats l5, forminggrooves to receive the sliding frame 16,having a mirror 17 and a handle 18 by which it may be manipulated. It isalso provided with a pair of dogs 18a, pressed outward by springs 18D assoon as the tops of the cleats are reached, so as to support themirror-frame in its elevated position when it is desired to use thedevice as a dresser.` For purposes of ornamentation and conveniencepicture-frames 13 are secured to the under side of the top at oppositesides of the mirror-frame. I

19 designates corner-brackets secured to the lower corners of the trunkand provided with projections or bumpers 20 to protect the trunk vfrominjury by careless handling. The arms of the brackets embracing thefront and rear IOO ' downward and outward and providing a kfl ' lowerends oi said slots.

pocket 22 between them, and centrally of and below said pockets arebolts or pins 23,secu red to the trunk in any suitable manner.

2l designates legs, by preference of angleirou. The l'ront sides of thefront legs and the rear sides of the rear legs are prolonged at theirupper ends, so as to form shoulders 26, adapted to bear against theunder side of the trunk and support it. The prolonged ends bear againstthe base of the trunk and are provided with slots 25, engaging the necksof said bolts. IVhen the legs are supporting the ti'unk-narnely, whenthe latter is used as a desk, dresser, or tablethe shoulders 2G, asabove stated, bear against the under side of the corner-brackets, andthe prolonged slotted ends titiin the pockets 22 between lugs 21, withthe bolts occupying the (See Fig. 1.) In this position it is obviousthat the legs are held absolutely rigid. When it is desired to fold thelegs to the position for shipment, as indicated by the arrows, Fig. l,the trunk is lifted slightly to permit the legs by gravity to slide downuntil the upper ends of the slots engage bolts 23 and their prolongedends are Withdrawn from said pockets. The persons manipulating the trunkcan now swing the legs inward andupward until they embrace and reinforcethe lower edges of the trunk at its front side, rear side, and bottom,and in such position they are adapted to be secured by straps (notshown) encircling the trunk at opposite sides of the lock and extendingthrough the guide-loops et, hereinbefore described, to prevent slippage.

To add additional rigidity to the hinged-leg construction it isdesirable to brace the legs of the corresponding ends ot' the trunktogether, which we accomplish by a pivoted cross-brace 27. With thiscross-brace it is also easier to eect the folding of the legs, as willbe readily understood.

For convenient use of the device as a desk or dresser in the evening itis provided at one end and preferably at its inner side with clips 2Sand with a removable standard 29, adapted to it in said clips, as shownin Fig. 4, and when not in use to be stored in one of the compartments9. At its upper end it is reduced to form the pivotstem 30, and swiveledupon said stem and held reliably in such posi tion by a retaining-nut3.1, engaging the upper end of the stem, is a coupling 32, provided witha horizontal arm 33, carrying a lamp 34a, which may be swung to aposition above or to one side of the desk or dresser. When the lamp isnotin use, the globe, burner, and wick are removed and a cork or cap(not shown) employed to close the opening in the tank to prevent theescape of the oil. rlhe lamp and attachments in this condition can beconveniently stored in one of the compartments 9.

Secured externally to'one end of the trunkbody is a loop 34 and theupwardly-disposed l hook 35. A lavatoryattachment inthe shape provided,with a depending metallic arm 37, adapted to extend through loop 3ft andengage and rest upon the bottom of said hook. To drain the water fromthe basin 36 it is pro vided with a drain-pipe 38, having acontrolling-valve 39 of the type shown or any-other suitable orpreferred type. When not in use, the lavatory attachment can be foldedinto a compact package and placed in a compartment 9 of the trunk.

By Fig; '7 is shown a slightly-modified construction of corner-bracket.This bracket is constructed of sheet metal. The parts 21 correspond tolugs 21 and are formed by stamping a loop forwardly from the body of theplate, the ends of said loop corresponding to lugs 21 and the passage ofthe loop to the pocket 22. This construction is on precisely the sameprinciple as that shown in Fig. 3.

From the above description it will be apparent that we have produced atable-desk trunk embodying the features of advantage enumerated asdesirable in the statement of invention, and it is to be understoodthat, While We have illustrated and described the preferred embodimentof the invention, there may be various changes made in the form,proportion, detail construction, and arrangement of the parts withoutdeparting from the essential spirit and scope or sacrificing any of theadvantages of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what we claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a device ot the character described, a set of corner-bracketshaving pivot-pins and pockets above said pins, and legs having slotspivotally embracing said pins and adapted to fit in said pockets,substantially as described.

2. In a device of the character described, a set of corner-bracketshaving pivot-pins and pockets above said pins, and legs at correspondingends connected in pairs and all provided with slotted upper endsengaging said pins and adapted at times to fit in said pockets,substantially as described.

3. In a device of the character described, a set of corner-bracketshaving pivotpins and pockets above said pins, and legs constructed ofangle-iron, each leg having one arm prolonged beyond the other toprovide a shoulder at the upper end ot the latter; said prolonged armshaving longitudinal slots and adapted at times to fit in said pockets,substantially as described.

set of corner-brackets having pivot-pins and pockets above said pins,and legs constructed of angle-iron, each leg having one arm prolongedbeyond the other to provide a shoulder at the upper end of the latter;said prolonged arms having longitudinal slots and adapted at times totit in said pockets, and said legs of a rubber washbasin 36, bypreference, is.

4. In a device of the character described, a

IOS

being adapted to be clamped firmly up against the lower front and rearedges of the trunk, substantially as described.

5. In a device of the oharaoter described, a body portion supported uponlegs, a top hinged to the body portion, means to support the top in asubstantially Vertical position, a tray in said top, guide-cleatssecured to the bottom of the tray, a sliding mirror secured in saidguide-cleats, means to support it in its elevated position, anilluminating attachment supported upon the body portion, and a lavatoryattachment detaohably connected to the body portion, all arrangedsubstantiall)T as and for the purpose set forth.

In'testimony whereof We alix our signatures in the presence of tWoWitnesses.

ALFRED P. ROTHSCHILD. GEORGE J. BUB. Witnesses:

EDWARD T. HAUG, FRANK B. AARON.

